Mike Vukovcan SOUTH SIDE-It’s literally been a perfect start to the 2025 All-Star season for the Hopewell Youth Baseball organization.
Things started with the Hopewell 8-year-old team earning two impressive wins over Findlay Twp and Central Valley. Then, the 10-year-old team did the same as they defeated
On Friday night, the Hopewell 10-year All-Star team started things off by overwhelming Pine-Richland Gray, 11-1 in 5 innings. Then this morning, the Vikings did the same, this time beating Fort Cherry, 13-1 in 5 innings.
With this impressive display, Hopewell will start elimination play tomorrow as the No. 1 see in the South Side Summer Slam Classic.
RECAP OF FRIDAY’S WIN OVER PINE-RICHLAND GRAY:
While the offense put 11 runs on the scoreboard, let’s give credit to the Hopewell pitching for being the story of this victory. The combination of Logan Giering, Sean Bain, Declan Lavia, Bowen Smith and Waylon Phillips each pitched one inning and held Pine-Richland to 1 run and just 2 hits. 11 of the 15 outs recorded by Hopewell pitchers came via strikeout.
 -Giering: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K’s
 -Bain: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K’s
 -Lavia: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K’s
 -Smith: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
 -Phillips: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K Â
Hopewell jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning. Jack Holsinger led off the game with a walk and advanced to 3rd base on a single by Cody Goble. Hopewell then got on the scoreboard first with a 2-run single by Bain, Hopewell led 2-0. Then with 1 out, the lead grew to 3 on an RBI single by Declan Lavia. Hopewell led 3-0.
The Vikings then added 3 more in the second inning. Lucas Strano led off with a walk and then scored on a triple to left field by Phillips. Then with 1 out, Phillips scored on an RBI single to center field by Breyson Hoth. Later in the inning with runners on the corner with 1 out, Holsinger drove in Hoth with a groundout to shortstop. Hopewell led 6-0.
In the top of the 4th, PR’s leadoff batter reached on a single but any hopes for a big inning were ended as the next batter lined out to Hoth at 2nd, who quickly doubled off the runner at 1st base for a double play.
After Pine-Richland scored a run in the top of the 5th inning to make it 7-1, Hopewell put up a 4-run inning to end the game on the 10 run rule.
With 1 out, Holsinger singled, which was followed by a walk to Cody Goble. Both Hopewell runners then scored on a Pine-Richland error to make it 8-1. With the bases loaded, Lavia walked to bring in Goble and Hopewell now led 9-1. Eden Lingenfelter then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Bain, Hopewell led 10-1. The game then ended on another error by Pine-Richland.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 11 PINE-RICHLAND 1
RECAP OF SATURDAY’S WIN OVER FORT CHERRY:
Offensive highlights this morning were a Lucas Strano booming home run and Eden Lingenfelter with 2 huge doubles.Â
For the second straight game, pitching was lights out with Eden Lingenfelter, Clayton Magnone, Jack Holsinger, Lucas Strano and Cody Goble toeing the rubber to hold the opponent to one run. In 10 innings of tournament play, Hopewell pitchers have allowed only 2 runs combined.
Defense also very strong with no errors led by Lingenfelter, Holsinger, Magnone, Waylon Phillips, Bowen Smith and Cody Goble all making solid plays in the field.
Good luck tomorrow as you look to win your first championship of the summer!
